TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 17

TRADES AND LABOUR.

London, July 8.

The Coal Mines Regulation Bill passed its second reading in the House ot Commons without a division. It is intended to ensure greater security for miners.

Pbbth, July 6.

A strike of compositors has occurred at the Morning Herald offioe for an increase of pay from 51s to 58s per weak, with an increase in the overtime allowance.

THE NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

Sydney, June 30.

A movement is on foot amongst the coalowners to resoind the resolution providing that all mines should make a fresh starttogether, and probably each mine will be filled as men are procurable.

The Miners' Co-operative Colliery have resumed work, bub that does not effect the strike, as ibis colliery waa exempt, from the proposed reduotion.

A meeting of shipowners at Newcastle resolved to maintain a position of neutrality in connection with the strike.

The coal strike is still engaging the attention of the Premier, who expresses himself anxious to see an amicable settlement of the matters in dispute. With this view he has invited the colliery proprietors to meet him with the intention of arranging a basis of settlement. It is understood that the masters are willing to concede their recently expressed intention of only treating with men individually instead of recognising unions, but will only recommenoe work at a slight redaction on the old rates.

A majority of the coalowners expressed their willingness to confer with the Premier, and a conference wilt be held on Monday. The general opinion is that the owners are determined to uphold their recent ultimatum, and this view is borneout in a letter received by the delegates to the board from the secretary to the Owners' Association with regard to the Premier's late proposals for a conference. He states that the stoppage of the pits has removed the strongest inducements to grant such a oonferenoe. While disclaiming any intention to crush unionists, the masters are fully determined to in future deal only with the miners employed in their individual collieries, and will no longer submit to the risk of a repetition of the present disastrous state of affairs.

The Premier had a lengthy interview with the coal owners to-day. Afterwards the owners met privately to discuss Mr Raid's overtures, and embodied their reply in a letter forwarded to the Premier. In this they state that, in recognition of bis efforts, they will consent to give the miners an advance of Id on the recent ultimatum, that is, to make the hewing rate 2s lid. They reiterated that they had no intention of breaking up the union, but they must insist on dealing with the miners directly. They refuse to give any guarantee against future redactions.

THE WORKERS' UNION.

Waimate, June 30.

The general secretary of the Workers' Union has received instructions to draw the attention of the Premier to the necessity which exists for establishing a reformatory for hardened juvenile criminals as shown by the recent Duuedin oases. Resolutions were passed expressing hearty approval of the attempt of the Government to prevent Chinamen from entering New Zealand, also condemning the action of the Upper House in attempting to veto the same. The opinion wai expressed, that seeing the Upper House strives to veto every measure for the good of the masses, the tjme was ripe for curtailment of its power or its abolition, The Abolition of

plural voting in county counoil elections was also strongly urged.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 2. A large number of unemployed met this morning, when the urgent need for employment was pointed out, it being said that there were numerous families without food and that several of the men present had had no breakfast and possessed no prospect of obtaining a meal daring the day. It was resolved to wait on the Charitable Aid Board and ask for immediate relief.

Wellington, July 3.

The Trades Council passed resolutions supporting the Government in their action with respect to the Asiatics Restriction Bill, and suggesting that the term -of office of Legislative Councillors should be only five years.

An important judgment (says the Post), probably the first under the Wages Attachment Aot of 1895, was delivered by Mr Martin, S.M., on Tuesday morning. Thomas Neave had obtained judgment for £4- 16b against John White, master of the steam launch Moss Rose, which vessel is engaged at a fixed sum per month to do certain work for tho Wellington Harbour Board. The judgment creditor applied for an attachment order to' attach money due to the judgment debtor from the Harbour Board, whioh order was made absolute, and the Harbour Board paid the money (£9) into court. The judgment debtor then applied to cancel the order on the ground that the money attached was wages due to White from the Harbour Board. Mr Martin held fcbafc the order must be set wide, as White's earnings were wages within the meaning of the Wages Attachment Act of 1895, and ordered the money paid into court to be paid to the judgment debtor. Mr Hadfleld appeared for the judgment oreditor and Mr Hindmawb. for the judgment debtor.

.The Ofcago branch of the New Zealand Sailway Officers' Institute h*s a m«mber*hip of 155 out of a possible 156. The membership of the Canterbury branch is 230 out of a possible 240. .